TANGIER ISLAND – Last week the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) environmental team rolled up their sleeves and dug into knee-deep wetland muck to restore damaged saltmarsh on Tangier Island.

Approximately 3,600 square feet of cordgrass marsh was impacted during reconstruction of two island bridges, Canton Creek Bridge and Corn Gut Bridge. The aging bridges were replaced December 2006 to make it easier for emergency vehicles to navigate around the island. The impacted marsh area was used as a storage yard during construction.

As a condition of the water quality permit to rebuild the two bridges, all temporarily impacted areas were to be restored to pre-construction quality. After construction, the areas were monitored for typical re-growth through spring 2007, but the natural vegetation was slow to re-establish on its own. To prevent long-term negative impacts to the wetlands, the Army Corps of Engineers and VDOT developed a plan to replant the effected saltmarsh cordgrass by fall 2007.

Saltmarsh cordgrass is considered one of the most valuable tidal wetland plants. The species’ provides a habitat for a variety of aquatic organisms, its roots bind marsh sediments creating a natural sponge to soak up floodwaters, and its decomposed matter creates the base of the aquatic food chain.

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Page last modified: July 18, 2007